Thursday, March 22 Belle Meade PlantationNashville, TennesseeJoin us at the historic Belle Meade Plantation, where we'll be speaking as part of their Carriage House Conversations series of events. We're really excited about this one!!!https://bellemeadeplantation.com

We learned about the Northwest Carriage Museum in Raymond, WA, a number of years ago, and it's long been on our list of places to visit someday. This is actually quite an extensive list, as there are a great many beautiful places in the world we would love to see: visiting even a fraction of the locations people are perpetually telling us we must go to would require the fortune of Midas and a lifespan rivaling Methusalah. Time and money being finite, however, we have to be very careful about how we spend both. We always devote these limited resources to activities which will serve both work and pleasure. While working on my current project, A Trip And A Tumble​, Book V in my Tales of Chezemoka series, I found myself researching horse-drawn vehicles of the late 19th-century, particularly phaetons. As is always the case with us, I wanted more knowledge than I could obtain from books alone, and thus doing research for my book provided us with a way to make the 240-mile trip to Raymond serve a purpose beyond fun alone.

My reasons for wanting a phaeton in Book V were rooted in the origins of the story itself. From the time Gabriel and I first envisioned my cycling club historical fiction series, we always knew it should include a travel book, wherein some of the club members venture away from their own city and get swept up in adventures. Travel stories were such an important part of cycling magazines and books of the late-19th-century it would have been virtually anachronistic for the series not to have a travel book. History and geography of the region dictated the locale: in the 1880s the most likely destination for cyclists going abroad from Port Townsend would have been the southern portion of Vancouver Island, Canada, which was known for its good roads and distinctly British civilization. I've been researching the area for years; while reading an 1891 travelogue of an Englishman's journey through Canada I came across a passage that caught my attention —and truly captured my imagination:

One evening I was standing in front of a shop on Fort Street [in Victoria, B.C.], when a very pretty phaeton drew up, with a lady in it, charming enough in look and dress and style for Rotten Row [a very posh section of London —the equivalent of New York's 5th Avenue]. This lady commenced a conversation with a friend upon the side-walk, and I heard what was said. She spoke with a decided London accent, certainly, but in perfectly cultured tones. A man near me, whom I knew slightly, said to me, as she drove away-- "Well, what do you think of that for an Indian?" I expressed unbounded surprise, at which he laughed, remarking, "Oh, you Britishers, what ideas you have! Why, some of the loveliest and most delightful women here have Indian blood. That lady is only one of many; they are as much thought of as others… I could show you as many such, who are half, three-quarters, whole Indian."Source: Roper, Edward. By Track and Trail: A Journey Through Canada. London: W.H. Allen & Co., 1891. pp. 241—244.

The author of the travelogue goes on to tell anecdotes of other Canadian-Indians he met in Victoria, who he found indistinguishable from rich, cultured Englishwomen from the highest society. His descriptions fascinated me because they ran so counter to the 20th-century narrative of poor, oppressed Indians. In particular my mind kept returning to that flashy socialite, dressed to the nines, with her "very pretty phaeton". I decided I simply had to base a character on her and have my Chetzemoka friends make her acquaintance.

Jennie Jerome Churchill, rumored to be part-Iroquois. Her memoir and various biographies helped immensely with understanding the details of a Victorian socialite's life.

Anonymous picture which served as the basis for Theresa Delaroux, the Victoria socialite in Book V.

Since her smart phaeton (the 19th-century equivalent of a high-end sports car) had been such a striking image in the original text, it had to be in my book as well. Researching the vehicle took us to the carriage museum, and it was an amazing experience!

Spider Phaeton

The Northwest Carriage Museum has a very extensive collection of beautiful 19th-century vehicles. The spider phaeton we had come to see is over a century old, yet it looks as though its first owner only purchased it yesterday.

We were charmed by the heart-shaped lamps on the phaeton —surely, we thought, a detail that the romantic Jacob would notice in the book!

One of the kind and helpful museum staff workers explained how weights like this one were used as mobile hitching posts to discourage a horse from wandering away with one's carriage when it was parked!

It was fun seeing the great variety of different steps on all the carriages, and the beautiful attention to detail on many of them.

Besides the spider phaeton, the museum also had a beautiful wicker phaeton —a summer vehicle for dry climates. We grinned when we saw that this vehicle had an parasol holder very like the one on my tricycle!

I loved seeing the greengrocer's cart! Nearly all the characters in the series would have been familiar with these from seeing them in the big metropolises.

This western wagon is like the one Ezra Dunn, the teamster, drives in Books I (First Wheel in Town) and II (Love Will Find A Wheel). One can certainly see why Jacob reflects that it would be more romantic to help Addie into a carriage like the opera coach below!

Running gears like this one were used to haul lumber and logs; the section between the two axles could be expanded to haul longer loads.. They would have been a common sight in and around the town of Chetzmoka. This particular running gear was used in the construction of Highway 7 between Morton and Tacoma.

The western chuck wagon will definitely have pride of place in a later story! I loved the coffee grinder, and all the other details.

The museum's lovely collection of sleighs reminded me of all the cuddly and romantic images of sleighing I came across when I was putting together A Christmas Wish. The velvet-covered foot-warmer for holding warm coals was marvelous!

The whole collection was marvelous, and the staff was incredibly helpful. A wonderful experience!

***​​In a seaport town in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, a group of friends find themselves drawn together —by chance, by love, and by the marvelous changes their world is undergoing. In the process, they learn that the family we choose can be just as important as the ones we're born into. Join their adventures in​The Tales of Chetzemoka

First Wheel in TownIn the summer of 1881, a Pacific Northwest town is buzzing with curiosity over a mysterious package received by handsome young Dr. Brown. Kitty Butler, the town dressmaker, is as curious as anyone else. She only knows one thing about that crate in the post office: everyone else's guesses about its contents are all wrong.

When Dr. Brown unpacks the crate and reveals the first bicycle the town has ever seen, he wants to share his enthusiasm for this revolutionary new piece of technology —but encounters overwhelming hostility instead of the excitement he'd expected. The only one who seems positively interested is the pretty young widow Kitty Butler, and Dr. Brown soon realizes how much he needs her support…Buy the book​​Learn more​​​​​​​​​​

Love Will Find A Wheel"I'm sure he'll be glad you're here —once he gets used to it." When Jacob Simmons arrives in Washington Territory in the summer of 1882 and receives a glacial reception from his uncle Silas, he appreciates Dr. Brown's encouraging prediction but doesn't have much faith in it. Jacob's not even sure Silas will have time to get used to his presence, let alone consider him welcome. If the young man can't meet the draconian requirements of a contract with his business investors, he'll face exile and financial ruin, thus fulfilling old Silas' prediction that he would be just as dismal a failure as his father. His whole future rests on finding a market for a remarkable new machine —and he'll need help selling them. *** Addie Kellam is an incredibly lonely young woman. She's more comfortable with books than with other people, yet she longs for the sort of romance she reads about in stories. It's something she fears she'll never experience herself, since even friendship seems elusive. She envies the cameraderie her brother finds in his cycling club, but the only bicycles in the town of Chetzemoka are specifically designed for men. There aren't any wheels for women anywhere —are there?Buy the book​Learn more

A Rapping At The Door When the delivery of a mysterious letter to Silas Hayes' mansion is followed by the arrival of a beautiful young woman who claims she can communicate with the dead, Nurse McCoy sniffs trouble in the wind. It's obvious to her that the newcomer is after Silas' fortune, but he is helplessly in awe of the medium's eerily intimate knowledge of his past and her seemingly supernatural abilities. Meanwhile, Kitty Brown's yearning to reach out to the departed spirit of her first love is making her push away her new husband, just when she needs him the most. The whole situation is a dreadful mess, and McCoy's got to straighten it all out before Silas' nephew and his bride come back from their honeymoon. Honestly, she doesn't know how any of the fools in this world would get along without her…​Buy the bookLearn more

Delivery DelayedIt's obvious to everyone in the Chetzemoka cycling club that Lizzie and Isaac could make each other very happy —but does anyone really listen to their friends about affairs of the heart? A prim schoolmarm and a stoic steamship captain are hardly the people to discuss their sentiments, especially with each other. The smallest challenges seem like huge obstacles, even with everyone else trying their best to bring them together. When progress finally seems possible, a well-intentioned little girl steps in with the kind of help they'd be better off without. Will the situation be resolved in time, or will Isaac ship out for good?Buy the bookLearn more

The verses embraced within these pages have been kissed awake after a long slumber. Copied from the fragile pages of nineteenth-century books and magazines, they are the whispers of lovers long entranced. In this beautifully diverse collection of Victorian love poetry high-born ladies and their eloquent beaux keep company with simple maids whose sweethearts pledge their love in simpler —and often much funnier— terms. Prepare for your happy sighs to be joined by occasional giggles while you hold this book close to your heart. Compiled, edited and introduced by Sarah A. Chrisman, author of the charming Tales of Chetzemoka historical fiction series, This Victorian Life, Victorian Secrets, and others.

Quotations of QualityA Commonplace Book of Victorian Advice, Wit, and Observations on LifeEloquent statements are like the seeds of beautiful flowers: in the fertile garden of the mind they grow and blossom into inspiration, reflection, and rewarding conversations. The Victorian era was a time when people expressed themselves skillfully and beautifully, and the writings of that age are a rich legacy from the past. This little volume is a collection of sentiments on an array of subjects, among them:

Books: "A minute's reading often provokes a day's thinking." —W.H. Venable, 1872. "Books are those faithful mirrors that reflect to our minds the minds of sages and heroes. A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit treasured up on a purpose for a life beyond." —J.F. Spaunhurst, 1896.Writing: "Every new book must have, in the consciousness of its author, a private history that, like the mysteries of romance, would if unfolded have an interest for the reader, and by unveiling the inner life of the volume show its character and tendencies." —Sarah Josepha Hale, 1866.Language: "The [Ancient] Greeks said that barbarians did not speak, they twittered." —Charles DeKay, 1898.The Sexes: "It is better for men, it is better for women, that each somewhat idealize the other." —Gail Hamilton, 1872.Love: "True love is that which ennobles the personality, fortifies the heart, and sanctifies the existence. And the being we love must not be mysterious and sphinx-like, but clear and limpid as a diamond; so that admiration and attachment may grow with knowledge." —Henry Frédéric Amiel, 1880.Optimism: "Refuse to dwell among shadows when there is so much sunshine in the world." —Hester M. Poole, 1888.History: "The past is our wisest and best instructor. In its dim and shadowy outlines we may, if we will, discern in some measure those elements of wisdom which should guide the present and secure the welfare of the future." —Frederick Douglass, 1889.Work: "Make the most of your brain and your eyes, and let no one dare tell you that you are devoting yourself to a low sphere of action." —Anonymous, late 19th-century

Keep this book in a place where its wisdom can refresh your spare moments, or buy a copy for a friend to brighten their day. May the flowers of thought thus planted bear rich fruit for you.

​Compiled and edited by Sarah A. Chrisman, author of The Tales of Chetzemoka, This Victorian Life, and others.

The Wheelman's JoyVictorian Cycling Poetry and Words About WheelsThere is something inherently romantic about cycling, and there has been since the first riders set their wheels to the road. This collection of nineteenth-century poetry, prose quotes and bon-mots about cycling reflects both the ardent passion and the innocent affection cycling inspires. From the glory days of high-wheel cycling through the boom of the safety bicycle, riders were falling in love with their wheels, with new-found freedoms, and above all with each other. This delightful little collection tells of those days in their own words, and evokes sentiments which every cyclist will find timeless. Compiled edited and introduced by Sarah A. Chrisman, author of the charming Tales of Chetzemoka cycling club series, This Victorian Life, Victorian Secrets, and others.

February 1, 1865: 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (abolishing slavery) is approved by President Lincoln. It had been passed by the House of Representatives the previous day, and would be ratified on December 6th of that year. More information and a scan of the document can be seen at: <https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=40>

People interested in human rights history will enjoy this piece by the BBC, comparing modern slavery with the historic variety:"Slave Labor and Consumer Power: The Long View" ‪http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06sgxg5

​February 2, 1882: A baby elephant is born at the winter quarters of Barnum's Circus in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The baby is two feet, six inches high, weighs forty-five pounds, and is covered with shaggy black hair an inch long. More details: <https://tinyurl.com/y8ts5azl>

​February 11, 1861: Happy birthday, Elizabeth Bisland! Miss Bisland is now perhaps most famous for her 1889-90 race around the world against fellow journalist Nelly Bly. However, Miss Bisland was a sweet, fascinating woman in her own right —and a very skilled writer as well. Her own account of the famous voyage, "A Flying Trip Around the World" makes for absolutely charming reading. For hyperlinks to Elizabeth's book about her famous trip, look under "Travel Books" on http://www.thisvictorianlife.com/favorite-books-etc.html

February 18, 1836: A system of gas lighting installed on the public streets in Philadelphia. For details, see "Street Lighting in Philadelphia: A Retrospect." The Record of Growth: A Monthly Journal of Material Progress. February, 1882, pp. 34—36. A digital copy of this publication is available at <https://tinyurl.com/yc5mt9tt>

February 24, 1871: Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex published. A free digital copy of the book: http://tinyurl.com/y83jmcye

​February 25, 1874: Happy birthday, Ida Lewis, the lady the Society of the American Cross of Honor called "The Bravest Woman in America" for her valiant achievements in saving the lives. Her father had been a lighthouse keeper but he was disabled by a stroke of paralysis when Ida was a young adolescent. Ida and her mother took over his lighthouse keeping duties, and Ida became known for her fearless willingness to risk her own life to save others. She would venture out into stormy seas —often alone— to rescue people from drowning, and in 1874 the U.S. government awarded her a gold medal in recognition of the many lives she had saved.Her story, written in 1883: https://tinyurl.com/yaw95wn8Another article about her, from 1877: https://tinyurl.com/y9xb749f

February 19, 2018: Presidents' Day

***

From "Good Housekeeping," March 2, 1889, p. 214.My first is in Flour but not in Rye,My second is in Wet but not in Dry,My third is in Bellow but not in Cry;My fourth is in Rod but never in Whip,My fifth is in Running but never in Skip,My sixth is in Yawl but never in Ship;My seventh is in Error but not in MissMy eight in ecstasy not in Bliss,--My whole, alas, for its cold, cold kiss!

In your heart of hearts, wouldn't you like to have a conversation around my books?

***

​In a seaport town in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, a group of friends find themselves drawn together —by chance, by love, and by the marvelous changes their world is undergoing. In the process, they learn that the family we choose can be just as important as the ones we're born into. Join their adventures in​The Tales of Chetzemoka

First Wheel in TownIn the summer of 1881, a Pacific Northwest town is buzzing with curiosity over a mysterious package received by handsome young Dr. Brown. Kitty Butler, the town dressmaker, is as curious as anyone else. She only knows one thing about that crate in the post office: everyone else's guesses about its contents are all wrong.

When Dr. Brown unpacks the crate and reveals the first bicycle the town has ever seen, he wants to share his enthusiasm for this revolutionary new piece of technology —but encounters overwhelming hostility instead of the excitement he'd expected. The only one who seems positively interested is the pretty young widow Kitty Butler, and Dr. Brown soon realizes how much he needs her support…Buy the book​​Learn more​​​​​​​​​

Love Will Find A Wheel"I'm sure he'll be glad you're here —once he gets used to it." When Jacob Simmons arrives in Washington Territory in the summer of 1882 and receives a glacial reception from his uncle Silas, he appreciates Dr. Brown's encouraging prediction but doesn't have much faith in it. Jacob's not even sure Silas will have time to get used to his presence, let alone consider him welcome. If the young man can't meet the draconian requirements of a contract with his business investors, he'll face exile and financial ruin, thus fulfilling old Silas' prediction that he would be just as dismal a failure as his father. His whole future rests on finding a market for a remarkable new machine —and he'll need help selling them. *** Addie Kellam is an incredibly lonely young woman. She's more comfortable with books than with other people, yet she longs for the sort of romance she reads about in stories. It's something she fears she'll never experience herself, since even friendship seems elusive. She envies the cameraderie her brother finds in his cycling club, but the only bicycles in the town of Chetzemoka are specifically designed for men. There aren't any wheels for women anywhere —are there?Buy the book​Learn more

A Rapping At The Door When the delivery of a mysterious letter to Silas Hayes' mansion is followed by the arrival of a beautiful young woman who claims she can communicate with the dead, Nurse McCoy sniffs trouble in the wind. It's obvious to her that the newcomer is after Silas' fortune, but he is helplessly in awe of the medium's eerily intimate knowledge of his past and her seemingly supernatural abilities. Meanwhile, Kitty Brown's yearning to reach out to the departed spirit of her first love is making her push away her new husband, just when she needs him the most. The whole situation is a dreadful mess, and McCoy's got to straighten it all out before Silas' nephew and his bride come back from their honeymoon. Honestly, she doesn't know how any of the fools in this world would get along without her…​Buy the bookLearn more

Delivery DelayedIt's obvious to everyone in the Chetzemoka cycling club that Lizzie and Isaac could make each other very happy —but does anyone really listen to their friends about affairs of the heart? A prim schoolmarm and a stoic steamship captain are hardly the people to discuss their sentiments, especially with each other. The smallest challenges seem like huge obstacles, even with everyone else trying their best to bring them together. When progress finally seems possible, a well-intentioned little girl steps in with the kind of help they'd be better off without. Will the situation be resolved in time, or will Isaac ship out for good?Buy the bookLearn more

***

The verses embraced within these pages have been kissed awake after a long slumber. Copied from the fragile pages of nineteenth-century books and magazines, they are the whispers of lovers long entranced. In this beautifully diverse collection of Victorian love poetry high-born ladies and their eloquent beaux keep company with simple maids whose sweethearts pledge their love in simpler —and often much funnier— terms. Prepare for your happy sighs to be joined by occasional giggles while you hold this book close to your heart. Compiled, edited and introduced by Sarah A. Chrisman, author of the charming Tales of Chetzemoka historical fiction series, This Victorian Life, Victorian Secrets, and others.

The Wheelman's JoyVictorian Cycling Poetry and Words About WheelsThere is something inherently romantic about cycling, and there has been since the first riders set their wheels to the road. This collection of nineteenth-century poetry, prose quotes and bon-mots about cycling reflects both the ardent passion and the innocent affection cycling inspires. From the glory days of high-wheel cycling through the boom of the safety bicycle, riders were falling in love with their wheels, with new-found freedoms, and above all with each other. This delightful little collection tells of those days in their own words, and evokes sentiments which every cyclist will find timeless. Compiled edited and introduced by Sarah A. Chrisman, author of the charming Tales of Chetzemoka cycling club series, This Victorian Life, Victorian Secrets, and others.

Eloquent statements are like the seeds of beautiful flowers: in the fertile garden of the mind they grow and blossom into inspiration, reflection, and rewarding conversations. The Victorian era was a time when people expressed themselves skillfully and beautifully, and the writings of that age are a rich legacy from the past. This little volume is a collection of sentiments on an array of subjects, among them:

Books: "A minute's reading often provokes a day's thinking." —W.H. Venable, 1872. "Books are those faithful mirrors that reflect to our minds the minds of sages and heroes. A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit treasured up on a purpose for a life beyond." —J.F. Spaunhurst, 1896.Writing: "Every new book must have, in the consciousness of its author, a private history that, like the mysteries of romance, would if unfolded have an interest for the reader, and by unveiling the inner life of the volume show its character and tendencies." —Sarah Josepha Hale, 1866.Language: "The [Ancient] Greeks said that barbarians did not speak, they twittered." —Charles DeKay, 1898.The Sexes: "It is better for men, it is better for women, that each somewhat idealize the other." —Gail Hamilton, 1872.Love: "True love is that which ennobles the personality, fortifies the heart, and sanctifies the existence. And the being we love must not be mysterious and sphinx-like, but clear and limpid as a diamond; so that admiration and attachment may grow with knowledge." —Henry Frédéric Amiel, 1880.Optimism: "Refuse to dwell among shadows when there is so much sunshine in the world." —Hester M. Poole, 1888.History: "The past is our wisest and best instructor. In its dim and shadowy outlines we may, if we will, discern in some measure those elements of wisdom which should guide the present and secure the welfare of the future." —Frederick Douglass, 1889.Work: "Make the most of your brain and your eyes, and let no one dare tell you that you are devoting yourself to a low sphere of action." —Anonymous, late 19th-century

Keep this book in a place where its wisdom can refresh your spare moments, or buy a copy for a friend to brighten their day. May the flowers of thought thus planted bear rich fruit for you.

​Compiled and edited by Sarah A. Chrisman, author of The Tales of Chetzemoka, This Victorian Life, and others.

Watching an EclipseWinkie and Blinkie sat up one night,To see an eclipse of the moon;But Winkie, he winked,And Blinkie, he blinked.And they said, "If it don't come soon"--Then suddenly out o'er a isty sea,They sailed in a star balloon;And losing the track,They never came back,Till a voice cried, "Children, 'tis noon!"—Mrs. J.T. Greenleaf, Good Housekeeping, Sept. 1893.

***​In a seaport town in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, a group of friends find themselves drawn together —by chance, by love, and by the marvelous changes their world is undergoing. In the process, they learn that the family we choose can be just as important as the ones we're born into. Join their adventures in​The Tales of Chetzemoka

Well, the last few months have certainly been busy ones! I've been hard at work on Book 5 of the Tales of Chetzemoka, in which Jacob and the chums (i.e., Ken and Felix) go on a trip and get mixed up in a romance between a high-class socialite and a red-haired circus performer. The research involved has been absolutely fascinating! I'm hoping to have the book finished by March. In the meantime, to tease you all a little but not spoil anything, here are some of the pictures I've been uncovering amongst all the reading I've been doing. Enjoy!

​Besides being hard at work on Book 5, I've also put together TWO new anthologies of historical materials. (I told you I've been busy!) The Wheelman's Joy is a collection of my favorite Victorian cycling poetry, prose witticisms and short remarks about wheeling from the 1880's and '90s. Quotations of Quality is the result of an oft-repeated request that I type up the commonplace book wherein I write down my favorite Victorian quotes and make this collection of bon-mots available to the public.

In presentation news, we'll be at the White River Valley Museum in Auburn, WA, on February 17th (info here) and we're absolutely thrilled to announce that we've been invited to speak at the Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, Tennessee, in March! (I'll provide further details of this very exciting event when more information becomes available.)

We'll be at the White River Valley Museum in Auburn, WA, on February 17th, 2018 at 2p.m.http://wrvmuseum.org/events.html918 H Street SEAuburn, WA 98002This Victorian LifeMeet Gabriel and Sarah Chrisman, a Port Townsend couple that fully embrace late 19th-century clothing, technology, and values on a daily basis. This fascinating couple has published many books on the subject and their historically immersive, and at times controversial, lifestyle has been featured nationally on ABC News and The View. Come hear why and how they do it!

If you'd like us to come to your community, please ask your local bookstore or museum to sponsor a presentation or an author event. These events happen because fans like you request your local organizations to sponsor them —and we're always thrilled to receive an invitation from somewhere new. Thank you for your support!

January 1, 1889: Total eclipse of the sun visible in the western United States. A booklet about the eclipse, written very shortly after it happened, is available here: https://tinyurl.com/yaegzfdh. (For more eclipse news, scroll down to January 28th!)

January 8, 1824: Happy birthday, Wilkie Collins!Wilkie Collins was the Victorian version of John Grisham; his books are thrilling page-turners, and it's really hard to put them down! Some of our favorites:--The Dead Secret: A dying noblewoman orders her maid to reveal her darkest secret, and swears with her dying breath to haunt her forever if she disobeys! What is that secret? When the maid thinks she's found a loophole in the solemn oath she took, will her mistress still come back from the grave to torment her? Librivox (free audiobook) version.--The Frozen Deep One woman, two would-be lovers: When the men are sent on a doomed Arctic mission together, will her horrible premonitions come to pass? Librivox (free audiobook) version.--Hide and Seek: A kind-hearted man takes in a small, deaf girl and raises her as his own. Where did she come from? What secrets are hidden in the mysterious hair bracelet left behind by her dying mother? Librivox (free audiobook) version.--The Law and the Lady—The unyielding heroine of this story is determined to expose the truth about her new husband, but each secret she unlocks opens the door to an even bigger mystery. [N.B. There is a poisoning scene in this book which bears a very striking resemblance to a case of poisoning investigated by American detective Allan Pinkerton and described in his book, The Murderer and the Fortune Teller. Pinkerton's book was published the same year as Collins' The Law and the Lady, but detailed a case he had investigated years before. Given the parallels in the stories, it seems likely Collins had been familiar with Pinkerton's work.] Librivox (free audiobook) version.--Man and Wife: A wonderful legal thriller about the complexities of marriage law in Scotland and Ireland. Librivox (free audiobook) version.​—Miss Bertha and the Yankee: A short story in classic Collins style! The scene opens on a young woman testifying in court: She is now an heiress, but tells the court from the start that her poverty as a small child left her sadly ignorant of the ways of the world. What exactly happened after she came to England and inherited her fortune?--The Moonstone Who stole the precious Indian diamond —and is it really cursed?--Poor Miss Finch Will poor, blind Lucilla get her sight back —and will she still be entranced with her lover when she sees the color of his skin? Librivox (free audiobook) version.--The Woman in White Mysteries within mysteries as crimes intertwine with questioned sanity and confused identities. One of Collins most popular novels! Librivox (free audiobook) version.

​January 9, 1854: Happy birthday, Jennie Jerome Churchill!

I've been having tremendous fun researching Jennie Churchill lately because I'm using her as the model for an audacious high-society belle in Book 5 of my Tales of Chetzemokaseries. Here are some of my favorite quotes by or about Jennie:

"One must always pretend the sun is shining, even when it isn't." —Jennie Churchill, quoted on the dedication page of American Jennie, by Anne Sebba.

Jennie's thoughts on California: "The flowers in California, although lovely, have little odour, and the fruit, which is gorgeous, has no taste, like a beautiful woman devoid of brains." —Jennie's memoir, Reminiscences of Lady Randolph Churchill. p. 241

"Many would tell you that feelings such as I feebly attempt to describe to you are quite out of date in this practical 19th-century, that a love such as this is an anachronism & that what I have written is only the effusions of a too ardent imagination or perhaps the ravings of a lunatic. God knows with me they are neither one nor the other, but simply the sincere & real description of a true pure love, which I own unhappily for the world is not common, but is not on that account less admirable or less possible. Feelings such as these are not as many would say from their very strength shortlived, on the contrary…" —Lord Randolph Churchill in a letter to Jennie shortly after they first fell in love. Quoted in a biography of Jennie by their grandson Peregrine Churchill, p. 34.

"You were never born to love lightly." —Jennie's father Leonard Jerome in a letter to her when she told him of her engagement to Lord Randolph Churchill. Quoted in Jennie, by Ralph G. Martin, p. 74.

January 28, 1888: Lunar eclipse visible in Egypt. "Watching an EclipseWinkie and Blinkie sat up one night,To see an eclipse of the moon;But Winkie, he winked,And Blinkie, he blinked.And they said, "If it don't come soon"--Then suddenly out o'er a isty sea,They sailed in a star balloon;And losing the track,They never came back,Till a voice cried, "Children, 'tis noon!"—Mrs. J.T. Greenleaf, Good Housekeeping, Sept. 1893.

And if you like eclipses, be sure to mark your calendars: There's going to be a total lunar eclipse on January 31, 2018! www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2018-january-31 (It will be in the wee early hours of the morning on the 31st, or the middle of the night on the 30th, depending on your point of view —see the link for details.) Besides being in eclipse, this will also be the second full moon in the same calendar month, which astronomers call a "blue moon" —although it will actually appear red due to the eclipse! www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/blue-moon.html

​January 29, 1861: Kansas becomes a state

Image courtesy Smithsonian

January 31, 1865: The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (abolishing slavery) is passed by the House of Representatives. It had already passed the Senate on April 8, 1864; it would be approved by President Lincoln on February 1, 1865 and ratified on December 6th, 1865. More information and a scan of the document can be seen here: <https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=40>

Special days in January:

January 15, 2018: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.I was born in King County, Washington state, the same county where Seattle is located. The county was originally named after Vice President William Rufus de Vane King. In 1986 the county's name was changed from King County to (er...) King County! It is now officially named after Martin Luther King Jr., human rights advocate.To read more, see: http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/logo.aspxPeople interested in human rights history will enjoy this piece by the BBC, comparing modern slavery with the historic variety:"Slave Labor and Consumer Power: The Long View" ‪http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06sgxg5​

"I insist that you shall write whatever comes first, —what you see, what you read, what you hear, what you admire, what you dislike; trifles, bagatelles, nonsense, or, to fill up a corner, e'en put down a laugh at full length." —Robert Burns.

***

​In a seaport town in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, a group of friends find themselves drawn together —by chance, by love, and by the marvelous changes their world is undergoing. In the process, they learn that the family we choose can be just as important as the ones we're born into. Join their adventures in​The Tales of Chetzemoka

My historical fiction series ​ In a seaport town in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, a group of friends find themselves drawn together —by chance, by love, and by the marvelous changes their world is undergoing. In the process, they learn that the family we choose can be just as important as the ones we're born into. Join their adventures in​The Tales of Chetzemoka

These pictures were taken at North Beach, the place that inspired the sunset / moonrise scene in Love Will Find A Wheel.​

"…Jacob turned to reply, but his response faded from his lips when he looked past Ken to the sky beyond the field. "Addie, look at the moon!" He whispered. The sight took her breath away. As the golden sun went down into the water behind them, the moon rose over the field like a silver goddess…" --Love Will Find A Wheel

​In a seaport town in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, a group of friends find themselves drawn together —by chance, by love, and by the marvelous changes their world is undergoing. In the process, they learn that the family we choose can be just as important as the ones we're born into. Join their adventures in​The Tales of Chetzemoka